Valve-locking device.



F. 0. SHEPARD.

VALVE LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1910.

1,003,21 1 I Patented Sept. 12, 1911 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co wumm'rou. D.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK C. SHEPARD, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0WILLIAM S. LEVINGS, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

VALVE-LOCKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRIOK C. SHEP- ARD, of Minneapolis, Hennepincounty, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inValve-Locking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a locking device for valvesdesignated particularly for gas meter and service cocks and arranged topositively prevent the open ing of the valve or cock by any unauthorizedperson.

A further object is to provide a locking device that is capable ofapplication to a service or gas cock without any fitting, which isusually required where a locking device is applied to a valve.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a side view of a meter or service cock illustrating the applicationof my invention thereto, Fig. 2 is an end View of the valve, Fig. 3 is asectional view illustrating the construction of the locking device, Fig.4: is a side view of the locking device, Fig. 5 is a plan View.

In the drawing, 2 represents a gas pipe, 3 the casing of a valve orcock, such as is usually employed between the gas main and the meter. Asusual in valves of this kind, a plug is provided having a nut 4: at oneend and a stem 5 at the other end, usually flattened to receive awrench. In these valves as ordinarily constructed, there is nothing toprevent an unauthorized person from opening the valve when it is closedand thereby obtaining a supply of gas. To prevent anyone from tamperingwith the valve I provide a casing or hood 6 adapted to fit over the topof the valve and having depending wings 7 which extend down on each sideof the valve casing 3 a suflicient distance to prevent the hood frombeing tilted or rotated sufficiently to expose the stem of the valve.The stem of the valve has a hole 8 therein, as usual in valves of thiskind, and this hole I utilize as a socket for the locking bolt. It isnot, therefore, necessary for the person applying the device to thevalve to spend any time in fitting the hood thereon or making a socketfor the bolt. and 10 depend from the top of the hood, the

Flanges 9 space between the flanges being of suflicient width to receivethe end of the stem in which the hole or socket is formed. A lockingbolt 11 is mounted within an inclosure 12 in the hood and a key-hole 13in the wall of the hood leads to a bolt actuating mechanism thatreceives a key 14, the bolt being projected by the inward thrust of thekey. When the key is thrust into the lock and the bolt projected intothe hole in the stem, the hood will be securely locked on the valvecasing and it will be impossible for anyone to open the valve withoutbreaking or otherwise damaging the inclosing hood.

I am aware that devices for this purpose have been heretofore used, butit has been necessary to either provide a valve of peculiar constructionor else provide a casing of special form for each type of valve on whichit is used.

With my invention the hood is applicable to any ordinary type of serviceor meter cock without any change and can be easily and quickly appliedwithout removing the valve from its connections.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a rotary valve having astem provided with a transverse socket, of a hood adapted to fit oversaid stem and conceal the same, said hood having a wing adapted toextend down on the outside of the valve casing and contact therewith andprevent rotary movement of said hood, a locking bolt disposed withinsaid hood and adapted to enter the socket in said stem, and mechanismwithin said hood and actuated by the movement of a key for projectingsaid bolt into said socket.

2. A locking device for service cocks comprising a metallic hood adaptedto fit over the top of a valve and having depending wings on each sideand lugs between which the stem of the valve is inserted, said stemhaving a hole therethrough, and a bolt mounted in said hood and adaptedto be projected into said hole by the movement of a key.

3. A locking device for service cocks comprising a hood adapted toinclose the top of a valve and having wings to depend on each sidethereof, the wall of said hood between wings being adapted to rest onthe casng of the valve, lugs depending within said hood and having aspace between them to receive the stem of the valve, said stem having asocket therein, and a bolt carried by said hood and arranged to beprojected into said socket by the movement of a key.

4:. The combination, with a rotary valve having a stem provided With atransverse socket, of a hood adapted to fit over said stem and concealthe same and having depending Wings adapted to extend down on each sideof the valve casing and contact therewith and prevent rotary movement ofsaid hood, said hood having a recess formed therein to receive saidstem, the Wall of'said recess having a hole therein, a reciprocatingbolt operating in said hole and adapted to enter a socket in said stein,and mechanism Within said hood and actuated by the move ment of a keyfor projecting said bolt or retracting the same.

5. A locking devlce for service cocks comprisin a hood adapted toinclose the top of the vziive and having wings to depend on each sidethereof, the wall of said hood between said Wings being adapted to reston the casing of the valve, a lug depending Within said hood and havingan opening therein, a reciprocating bolt operating Within said opening,mechanism actuated by the movement of the key disposed between said lugand the Wall of said hood for projecting or retracting said bolt, andsaid valve having a stem provided with a socket to receive said bolt.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of April1910.

FREDRICK C. SHEPARD. Witnesses:

LILLIAN E. WILLIAMS, GEO. N. DE MILLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five. cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

